Jim Booth, age 9, of Harrisburg, Pa., for his question:

WHAT DOES THE NEWT EAT?

A newt is an amphibian that belongs to the salamander family and can be found in most of the temperate parts the world. The newt's diet is made up of worms, snails, insects and sometimes even small fish.

Each spring the newt lays its eggs among plants found in streams or ponds. The larvae, or young newts, are hatched after two to five weeks. At this time they have gills and live in the water for three months. Then gradually they develop lungs.

At this stage, some newts move up onto the land and change in color from greenish to a reddish orange color. They are then known as red efts.

The efts stay on land for two or three years. At the end of this time they become greenish brown again and go back to the water to lay their eggs. They then stay in the water for the rest of their lives.